Cian Oldknow is prioritizing 21 and 42km marathon races for this season

The 33-year-old marathoner who recently qualified for the Olympic Games in Seville, will be directing her efforts towards the 21.1km and 42.2km marathon events.

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Having triumphed in the Johnson Crane Hire Marathon in January, she informed SABC Sport about making a deliberate shift towards longer distances.

''It's likely that I won't be doing the Absa race this year, as we will be doing more marathon training. So I will be doing longer distance races leading to Paris,'' she said.

She will be joining the 21.1km race during the Athletics South Africa (ASA) 10km championships, held in collaboration with the Motsepe Foundation’s Race to Equality.

As a result, she will be unable to vie for the national title at Marks Park Sports Centre in Johannesburg this Sunday.

''I will be doing the half-marathon, and I am a little sad to miss out on the SA 10km Champs again. That's because I'm not in the 10km form at the moment with marathon training,'' added Oldknow.

Transitioning to longer-distance events proved challenging, yet she found solace in the ample time she had to contemplate her decision.

''It is a cost and a new experience I am willing to take,'' she concluded.

This year, Oldknow aims to test her limits by taking on the Two Oceans 21.1km half-marathon, the Cape Town Marathon, and the Soweto Marathon.